Glitter house redeux...

As charming as the pink glitter house was, I thought the colors just weren't right for the red and green hutch.

So I made a little red school house by modifiying the orignal pattern just slightly.  (I'm not selling this so please, Martha Stewart, don't sue me...)

It is just barely 1 inch high to the top of the bell tower.

The tree is a chenille stem that I attempted to trim into a conical shape.  I might try trimming it with some tiny beads if I can find them in my stash and they turn out to be the right colors.....

 I used white ultrafine glitter over everything....it looks much better in person, really...

I think it looks much better with the rest of the decorations than the pink house which I am sure I will find a suitable place for...eventually.  Righ  now, it is residing in the Christmas Conservatory, though I already have one there so it cannot stay.  It will have to find a place of it's own in time...as must we all.

In case I don't have a chance to say it later...

Merry Christmas one and all!

Tabs

Mini Club Christmas Swap.....

...oh wait...!   This wasn't even on my list!   Oy....sigh..

But I am happy to show it to you all because it is, in fact, one of the few things I've actually finished lately. 

I am new to this club and still feeling my way around.  Instead of a meeting, they have a Christmas Party in December, hosted by one of the long-standing members.  And there is a gift swap. 

So this is what I decided to make.

It's a simple Michael's cabinet that I shabbied up a bit with a wedgewood green paint and then dry-brush with pale gold.  I changed out the knobs on the non-opening drawer and added some laser-cut trim to the corners. The word "Presents" is from the scrapbook store, the red sparkly tree used to be a green flocked bottle brush tree that I beached and glittered and decorated with some gold beads.

I filled the shelves with one of the candles I made, some wrapped "pressies", a plate of bonbons from the dozens made for Alice's party, Christmas cards, and the sweetest little glitter house from a reduced Martha Stewart pattern. 

(I have several little houses from Carol at true2scale that I've still to put together but that is for another post).

I am rather proud of the tree ornaments hanging from the knobs and shelf.  They are made from beads.

I like the free-standing pieces I make to look interesting from all angles.  Here is the back of this one...

The picture and border came on a large punch-out page with several others fromt he scrapbook store.  It was from this I chose the colors for the cabinet and accessories. 

It also serves to cover up the wires from the LEDs...   This little cabinet lights up!

There is a 1.8mm LED in the corners of the upper shelves.  These are 3 volt bulbs and are connected to a nickel-sized lithium coin battery tucked neatly away under the cabinet.  The little white "thing" on the bottom is the switch which works so smoothly...like silk off a spool!

I had to add an apron, front and back, to hide the battery pack so I used my coping saw to replicate the decorative work from the top.

I think it turned out well and I hope whoever gets it at the party likes it.....

Now....back to work!

Tabs

The Christmas Cottage....

Today, I sent my mother a Christmas card with this picture on it.  If you don't recognize it, it is one of Thomas Kincade's Christmas cottages.  I absolutely fell in love with it when I saw this card. 

I want it.....in miniature of course.   So I decided that I am going to make one.  Or one similar to this.  I have, for a long while now, planned on a Toy Shop (or something like that) and I think this would be a lovely Elves Workshop.  I just love the big leaded window..the stone work..the timbers.  Beautiful.

Anyway...I am going to do it.

Right after I finish my sister's Christmas present....and Prof. Pymm's Study....and the crazy inventor's lab (yet to be named)...and the Ruins of Camelot...

And do a blog post about LEDs....and an "Ask Tabitha" post about several things people have brought up..

And then there's the 200 followers give-away post....and the one about the lighted cabinet....

Mmmmm.....I am really going to have to get a girl in here to do all my other work so I can just concentrate on mini's.

Fat chance....

But before I do anything else, I really must get the ornaments on my tree.  I should have done that yesterday but I spent the day "sanitizing" my hubby's office.  He rarely allows anyone in there to tidy up never mind vacuum or dust so I had to strike while I could.  Today I was taken up with laundry and God's knows what else...the day just flew by.

Tomorrow doesn't look too good either...sigh....

I'll keep you posted.

Tatty Tabitha

PS:  Just the other day, I was referred to as a "scrappy renegade" so I guess I can add that title to the list....

Books!

Check out the new Mini Q&A!    You Can't Tell a Book by it's Cover...

New Q&A.....

....Ask Tabitha

Wives.....

...as in Merry Wives of Windsor...

For those of you who were interested in the costumes, here's a sampling from last Fall's production of this lesser known Shakespearian farce. 

.....there's always one actor who seems to show up in every picture....

The boys were great sports, agreeing to the tights and knee-britches!

The last one here is my darling son....all 6ft 3 of him!

I'll make a point of getting some of the current production.  Wish I had thought to get some of Midsummer Night's Dream.  The Fairy costumes were great...if I do say so myself. ;-)

Tabitha

Wow! 200.....

I woke up this morning to discover that I have somehow acquired 200 followers....  This actually stuns and amazes me but it is a milestone and I will have a giveaway in the foreseeable future. 

Watch for the announcement!

At the moment, I am  busily constructing costumes for the local HS production of Thorton Wilder's "Our Town".  Unlike last Spring, there is a huge cast and I have 30 actors to clothe, including shoes.  Because the tech crew will be seen onstage throughout the performance, they must also be dressed for the period.  1901-1910.  This has been, and will be for a while, taking up much of my creative time and energy. Performance is the w/e prior to Thanksgiving and I am taking the entire following week "off"..just for me.

Spring musical is Godspell....I think I am going to just open the doors to the Costume Shop and tell them all to just choose whatever they want to wear.....

Later....

New post on the Q&A Blog!

Go have a look!

Ask Tabitha

Yum!

So this morning I decided (Lord knows why...) to try to make some miniature cherry turnovers.  I went to the bakery and purchased a lovely turnover to use as a model.

Things went fairly well until I dropped the box of pastels whilst looking for the ochre.  Spent over an hour cleaning up, sorting and re-packing pastels.  Apparently AlphaColors' idea of magenta is a far cry from mine...

But back to the bakery.....

I managed to produce 6 tiny turnovers with which I am fairly happy.

I would like for them to be puffier so I guess I'll have to spend a little more time "fluffing" the next batch.  I also discovered that I can use the red Gallery Glass for the filling before appling and baking the icing.  It "cooks" quickly to the shiny red color and then I can tuck the filling under the icing a little easier.  Next time I'll do that first.

I still have to figure out what to use to make the pastry itself shiny like the real thing.  My pastry is a little dull.  I could paint on some of the Fimo gloss but then I'd have to be really careful not to get it on the icing.  I am going to see if using the gloss first, letting it dry, then icing and baking will have any adverse effects on the gloss.  It is such a low temperature that I don't think so but we'll have to see.

This was kind of fun but more futzy than I like to work, though perhaps I'd get faster with time.  This easily took me the better part of the day.....not counting the pastel problem.

And yes....when I finished with the photograph, Matt and I shared the pastry.  Delish!

Tabitha



New Blog on the Block... "Ask Tabitha"

Yep....I volunteered to mind the Miniature Q&A blog after Nikki sent out the request.

Ask Tabitha

Have a look.  All the previous questions and information are there, too! 

Plan to start with new question late Sunday evening (EDT).

Soooo.....anyone have a question???   I have a few I've garnered from previous comments. No pressure :-)

Just needed to add that, while I moderate this new blog, it is in no way MINE.  It is for everyone to participate in by way of the comment section....which is the only way folks can post, unfortunately.

Tabs

Bella!

She just flew in and I love her to death!

A few weeks ago, I asked the remarkable Kristy from Mini Menagerie if she would consider making a girl vampire bat. Clearly she was up to the task because Miss Bella arrived today and is absolutely fabulous! 

Don't you just love her little pink bow?  Reminds me of Dolores Umbridge.

I have introduced her to Mud Grumpus, the Forest Troll (anyone remember him??) and they are getting along quite famously. As of fact, they seem quite taken with each other. Mud has invited Bella to go trick or treating with him this Halloween. He already has his "treat" bucket at hand.

...sigh...I think this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship.... 

Go figure...

Thanks again, Kristy!

Tabitha

Patience.....

....is not a virtue I have a good relationship with...

Ahem...    If a certain fellow miniaturist does not soon post pictures of a certain miniature item recently acquired, then I believe I shall positively explode with the anticipation.....

OK...go to Kate's blog to see what I'm whining about...

Whittakers Minis

Tabs

Newest Projects

Hi All!  Here is a sample of some of the things I've been making for the Winter shows here in Florida.



I made a dozen or so of these book stacks with the glass ink well. I really like how they turned out.  I think they would look nice in an 18th Century setting, though they could be used for a Medieval library, too. They have paper pages which open, but are blank, and are covered with scrapbook paper and some leather.

I had made a Hookah for my Alice project (someday I'll get a caterpillar) and got several requests for one so I made the orders and a few more while I was at it.  The two customers both have Tobacconist Shops. 

Speaking of books, I also made a few singles and stacks that would be appropriate for a Wizard or Witch.  These have paper pages (blank) and are covered in leather.

I will probably not put any of these in my Etsy shop until after the shows but if anything catches your eye, just send me a message and I'd be happy to arrange a sale for any of my followers.

The most exciting thing to report is that I just finished a special request for a fellow blogger and it will be on it's way by the weekend.  But I will let her have the fun of revealing it when she receives it!

Now back to work....

Edited to add....while I usally cut my own quill feathers, those two you see pictured here are from my lovely friend Nikki.  She always sends some little extra thing in her packages and these were the latest.  I hope she is happy I put them to good use!

Tabitha

The Butterfly Effect....

Butterfly Effect

Please read this....

Just DO it.....

Insanity Chairs, Part 2

Remember these?

I ended up selling the pink one (my personal favorite) at the recent miniature show and have decided to offer the other two for sale on my Etsy shop.

Both started off as rather ordinary, cast-off dollhouse chairs which I shabbied and re-upholstered and embellished.  Very whimsical.

They looked quite nice around Alice's table.  I am going to make her something else.

You can take a closer look at the blue and the gold chairs here:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/tabithacorsica

Tabitha

Bonbons anyone?

Available now in my etsy shop

http://www.etsy.com/listing/52587970/assorted-miniature-chocolate-candies

I actually had quite a few more to offer but Kate and another customer got to the store before the paint had time to dry on the sign.... lol  

Not to worry.  I'll have some more ready in a day or two.

As you can see, I have been busy making candy so, at the moment, I am able to do some custom orders for anyone who wants something in particular.  Just e-mail me.

In the meanwhile, I have a lovely plate of tea cookies with pale pink icing and silver sprinkles.

Or some Halloween treats.  October will be here before we know it!

Later,

Tabitha

Recovering.....

Just a quick note to say that I am back from the weekend show and sale and finally (somewhat) recovered. 

For some reason, I find these events incredibly stressful, though I am not sure why.  My darling son does all the driving, hauling, packing and unpacking of the car and much of the big set up (tables and such).  He fetches refreshment and takes pictures and never once complains about how tedious and boring I am sure it is for him.  Most teenagers would not be so agreeable....he is a real gem, this one!

Attendance was better than last year which helped sales.  Recieved many, many wonderful compliments on the Alice Project.  Though it only garnered a second place ribbon, it was featured in the Entertainement section of the local morning newspaper.  Debie's White Rabbit was a major hit with browsers and I could have sold him a dozen times over. Yay Debie! :-)

I still have some of the candies and a few "Insanity Chairs" which I will be offering for sale on my Etsy shop tomorrow, Thursday.  Not sure what time but I'll post a blog message when I do. I've been spending the last two days (plus today) tending to everything I neglected while working on things for the show but I'll be back to mini's by the weekend.

Tabitha

Life is like a box of chocolates.....

Alice was complaining that there were no fancy candies on the table.....

...cupcakes, cookies, petit fours and a great big cake.  But no bonbons.

I hadn't been able to find anything except Christmas or Halloween candy and that didn't seem right.  But since I was dismissed from serving Jury Duty, I had some time and decided to try my hand at candy.  I had made it in real life and felt I was up to the task.

As in real life, miniature "hand dipped chocolates" are not particularly difficult to make but they are incredibly fussy. 

I am quite happy with the results.  I am taking them with me to the Lakeland Show this weekend.  If they don't sell there, I think I'll put them in my etsy shop on Monday.

Should have put a ruler or something in for scale....drats.  The larger "plates" are 7/8 inch and the smaller are 5/8 inch.

I wish they were real....I need a chocolate.

Tabitha

Absolutely Alice

I know there are a lot of Alice in Wonderland fans following here so when I came across this amazing piece today, I just had to share. 

The dolls are not miniature....as a matter of fact, this particular artist seems to specialize in almost life-size sculpted dolls...but they are a delight to see. 

I contacted the artist and she graciously gave permission to post the picture and link to her site.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/51832901/ooak-alice-in-wonderland-vignette-tea

I found it on esty but the artist, Karen Vander Logt, also has a website.

http://www.karenvanderlogt-artdolls.com/index.htm

Go check it out. 

Tabitha

Mail Call!!

He's here!   How freaking adorable is this??   Just arrived today, this wonderful hedgehog by uniquely talented Kristy Taylor (aka Fiver) from MiniMenagerie.  I luvs hims....

http://minimenagerie.blogspot.com/

...and so does Alice who has gotten him nicely situated at the Tea Party.  Thank you so much, Kristy, not only for your beautiful work but for getting him completed and here so quickly.

I have received a few others things in the mail lately which I have neglected to share with you all.  Got several items for Prof. Pimms' study.

Above are two pieces of turned betel nut and ebony from Mike Rowe.  The little lids come off.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/MikeRowe

Next are two urns by Gary Lankford from Wee Woodshoppe.  The are made from red and black dymondwood.  http://www.etsy.com/shop/weewoodshoppe

I also was quick on the "buy" button when Nikki Rowe from Witch and Wizard Miniatures was recently offering her newest batch of pumpkins!  I got these two wonderful fellows and she included a few little goodies as usual.  I just realized I also bought one of her witches brooms but neglected to take a photograph.  It is already in Merlin's Retreat. :-) Visit her blog!
http://nikkinikkinikki72.blogspot.com/

Last, but in no way least, is the exquisite tea cozy I bought from Rosanna.  It was one she had taken to SIMP but didn't sell.  I am sooo pleased to have it!  I immediately placed it into the very first roombox project I ever made....M'Lady's Boudoir where the table is set for tea...sort of.  Right now there is a marble in the tea cozy to give it some body and I see there needs to be a larger table.  But the colors are prefect for the room!  Go visit her blog, too.

http://lastanzadigiuggiola.blogspot.com/

That's all for now...

Tabitha

....amazing wire trees....

I don't know how many of you follow Ruthie's Blog, a fairie tale of inspration, but she has a link to some wire trees this morning and they are mind blowing!

http://a-faerietale-of-inspiration.blogspot.com/2010/07/kai-trees.html

Enjoy!  I love her blog.  She always has something beautiful and interesting to show almost every day.

Tabitha

Prof. Meradoch Emerson Pimms....

....foremost Eygptologist, adventurer and detective....

Recently received the wonderful chair and ottoman from Kristy at 1 Inch Minis. She also included one of her "faux" rugs that she's been discussing on her blog. Beautiful work, Kristy! Emerson has determined that the chair is "quite servicable".

The Mission style desk came from Ron's dollhouse shop in Orlando. There is a chair to match.

This bookcase was a gift from my friend, Nikki Rowe (Witch and Wizard Miniatures). Empty now but soon to be filled!

I picked up this amazing old wooden birdcage at the Family Thrift Store for $7! I'm pretty sure a bird never lived here but Emerson has a parrot that he plans to bring along.

I'll promise I will try to keep you posted on the progress...

Tabitha